Lost Beetle project on tap

The Tally Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest is seeking public input on the proposed Lost Beetle Project, located approximately 10 miles west of Kalispell just north of Ashley Lake.

The proposed project includes vegetation and fuel treatments on approximately 431 acres, designed to make forested stands more resilient to insect and disease infestations and wildfire, and reduce hazardous fuel build-up in the wildland urban interface.

The project was developed in collaboration with interested community members. Lands within the proposed project area were designated by Montana Gov. Steve Bullock in 2014 as a priority landscape under Section 602 the Farm Bill amendment to the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003. Section 602 addresses insect and disease threats on National Forest System lands to help reduce impacts to forest health and reduce wildfire risk. Public comments on the project are encouraged and will be accepted until Jan. 4, 2016.

Comments can be mailed to 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901, attention Deb Bond, or email comments to, comments-northern-flathead-tally-lake@fs.fed.us and include “Lost Beetle Project” in the subject line. For more information about the project, visit, www.fs.usda.gov/projects/flathead/landmanagement/projects, or contact Project Leader, Deb Bond at 406/758-5204.